I am contacting you in regard to the University of Iowa's purchase of animals from
animal dealer, James Woudenberg. These purchases continue despite the University's having
been provided with detailed evidence of Woudenberg's numerous violations of the federal
Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and his unscrupulous behavior.

Woudenberg has such disregard for life and for honesty that he actually listed his
company, R&R Research, in the Montcalm Phone Guide as an "animal shelter."
As a result of this misrepresentation, Woudenberg was ordered by the Office of the
Attorney General to "cease and desist from advertising or representing any
information to the public that is not factually valid." It was not until WOOD-TV
featured an exposť on R&R Research that he reportedly agreed to this order.

WOOD-TV also reported that Woudenberg and his employees lied to inves- tigators
attempting to reunite a missing golden retriever with his family. According to the report,
Woudenberg told a police officer that he did not have the dog, while others at R&R
Research told an animal control officer that the dog was dead. Fortunately, the dog was
subsequently retrieved from R&R Research very much alive, though ill.

In addition to gassing animals, misrepresenting his business, and reportedly lying
to police, Woundenberg has, as these excerpts from United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) inspection reports confirm, a history of non-compliance with the AWA.

2-12-95: "The records show some discrepancies. Three animals were shown on
the records to be euthanized before they were received."

9-28-93: "This facility is not obtaining health certificates for animals
being delivered out of state."

3-5-93: "Many animals are not being held the required five full days."

2-2-92: "The temperature in the barn was measured at 23 degrees on my
thermometer and the one in the facility. All of the dogs there were random source and
non-acclimated. Water in the water bowls was frozen indicating that the temperature was
below freezing and below 45 degrees for more than four hours. Many short-hair dogs were
noticeably shaking from the cold."

2-8-89: "The dog facility is a large converted barn which does not have a
furnace. The building was so cold that the water was frozen. The ambient temperature shall
not be allowed to fall below 50 degrees for dogs and cats."

4-1-87: "One female dog had puppies while in a pen with two other dogs. All
pups died. Better care and separation should be provided for these pregnant animals. A
large barrel appears to be used for euthanasia. The barrel is rusty and in need of paint.
A dead dog was found in it. This animal should be properly disposed of. None of the cats
had tags on."

Would you please explain why the University of Iowa continues to support and
defend this notorious operation? I look forward to your response.

*Several have asked what a "B" dealer is. One is an animal dealer who is
licensed by the USDA to purchase animals, being pet dogs and cats, from a pound who were
drop offs from owners or who where found as strays. They (B dealer) buy them for a small
amount or sometimes the animals are given to the dealers. They sell them for large profit
to universities for medical research experiments.

Further info resource: IDA: Some pounds, shelters and humane societies may sell
"surplus" dogs and cats to Class B dealers and/or research facilities - a
practice commonly called "pound seizure. There are known cases of family dogs and
cats being picked up as "strays," being "laundered" through the pound,
shelter or humane society system (by withholding them from view or taking them to an
out-of-town facility to fulfill the required five-day holding period), and later sold to a
dealer or research facility. Having a pound, shelter or humane society that practices
pound seizure in your area means that every pet is worth money, and increases the chances
of pet theft occurring in your community. Thank-you, Lisa Marie